Car coupler



July 31, 1928. 1,678,774

E. GEORGE, JR

CAR COUPLER Filed June 29, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 31, 1928.

E. GEORGE, JR

CAR COUPLER Filed June 29, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 attening Patented July 31, 1928.

UNITED STA .ENOCH GEORGE, JR., OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MCCONWAY 86 TORLEY COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 01E PENN- SYLVANIA.

CAR COUPLER. 7

Application filed June 29, 1926. Serial No. 119,393.

My invention relates to the construction of car couplers and more especially to those of the type commonly known as locomotive and tender couplers, wherein the coupler shank is comparatively short and 1s pivot-ally connected to a pocket casting or bracket member.

The principal object of the invention s to provide a car coupler of the type indicated which is efficient in service and well adapted to resist the stresses and wear 1t is required to withstand.

The principal feature of the invention consists' in pivotally connecting a car coupler to a pocket casting through the instrumentality of a pivot pin which is encircled by a sectional bushing, he divisions of the bushing being substantially coincident w th the planes of the shearin forces to which the pivot pin is subjected.

A further feature consists in formingthe coupler pocket with a plurality of pivot lugs disposed in spaced relation and in tashioning the car coupler with spaced pivot lugs which mesh therewith, each of the lugs being provided with a bushing for receiving a pin pivotally connecting the pocket member and coupler, and the alternate bushings being elongated so as to prevent the pm from being subject to butting stresses.

Other features of the invention pertaining to advantageous forms and combinations of parts will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings illustrat'ng tion,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a car coupler embodying a preferred form of the construction.

Figure 2 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of the device shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the coupler head being omitted.

Figure 3 is a. detail plan view showing one of this bushings in assembled relation to the part with which it is associated.

Figure 4: is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 but illustrating one of the elongated bushings Figure 5 is a detail view in side elevation showing the form of bushing preferably employed at the upper end of the pivot pin.

Figures 6 and 7 are views correspondii'ig the invento Fig. 2 but respectively illustrating moditied forms of the invention. I

In the drawings, 1 indicates a bracket member or coupler pocket which is adapted to be secured to the locomotive, tender or other vehicle to which itis to beapplied. The coupler pocket is formed'with a plurality of pivot lugs 2,3 and l, respectively, the latter being extended forwardly to prbvide a floor or shelf 5 for supporting the coupler 6 against sagging or drooping. These pivot lugs are integrally connected at the sides by the forwardly diverging lateral walls of the pocket member 1, as indicated at 7 and 8, the webs or *alls '7 and 8 being flared with respect to each other so as to permit the coupler to have the desired range of swinging movement.

Positioned in the apertures of the pivot lugs 2, 3 and t are corresponding bushings 9, 10 and 11, respectively, through which the pivot pin 12 extends. The openings through each of these bushings is elongated in the direction of length of the coupler, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to prevent butting stresses from being communicated to the pin 12. To prevent the bushings fro-m turning with rospect to the pivot lugs of the coupler pocket, each is preferably shouldered at its upper end to provide a rectangular collar 13 which fits in a corresponding recess in the adjacent pivot lug. In addition to being provided with the collar 13, the uppermost bushmg 9 is preferably formed on opposite sides with upstanding lugs or flanges 1a which, by engaging correspondingly flattened faces 15 on the head of the pivot pin 12, prevent the latter from rotating in the bushings carried by the coupler pocket 1,

At its rear end the shank of the coupler 6 is bifurcated to provide spaced pivot lugs 16 which receive the intermediate pivot lug 3 of the pocket member between them. The rear end faces 17 of the pivot lugs 16 are curved cylindrically to cooperate with the correspondingly curved cylindrical surfaces 18 of the coupler pocket, thereby eiiiciently providing for the transmission of buiiing forces to the latter in all angular positions v the pocket member afford clearances for the pivot pin 12 when the curved faces 17 and 18 are in contact, thereby relieving said pin of buifing stresses. The aperture in each of the pivot lugs 16 of the coupler is preferably provided with a bushing 19 having a cylindrical opening for the pivot. pin. To prevent. rotation of these bushings each may advantageously be shouldered at its upper end by fashioning it with a square flange or collar 20 which fits into a corresponding recess formed in the neighboring surface of the corresponding pivot lug 16. The spaces in the coupler pocket into which the pivot lugs 16 of the coupler eXtend are of greater height vertically than is the intermediate pivot lug 3, thereby permitting a shouldered bushing to be associated with said intermediate lug.

' The mocl-ifieclform of the invention shown in Fig. 6 is substantially the sameas the com struction heretofore described except that the holes in the bushings 21, 22 and 23 of the coupler pocket 24 are cylindrical instead of elongated, whereas the holes in the bushings 25 of the coupler 26 are elongated instead of cylindrical. By this alternative construction the pivot pin is relieved of buffing stresses as in the case of the construction heretofore described.

In the device shown in- Fig. 7 the apertures in the bushings 27, 28 and 29, respectively, carried by the pivot lugsof the pocket member 30 are cylindrical, and the apertures through the bushings 31 carried by the pivot lugs of the coupler 82 are also cylindrical. Other features ofthe invention embodied in this form of construction correspond to similar features heretofore described and accordingly are indicated by corresponding reference numerals.

1. In a device of the charact'erindicated, the combination with a coupler pocket having a plurality of pivot lugs disposed with relation to each other so as to provide a plurality of intervening spaces for receiving corresponding portions of the shank of a car ing a plurality of apertured lugs disposed. in spaced relatlon, of a car coupler. provided,

with a plurality of apertured lugs meshing with said lugs of the coupler pocket, bush-' ings respectively positioned in the apertures of said lugs, and a pivot pin. extending through said lugs and bushings for, pivotally connecting the coupler pocket and car coupler, certain of said bushihgs being elongated so as to permit the coupler to engage the coupler pocket and relieve the pivot pin of bufiing stress.

3. In a'device of the character indicated,

the combination with a coupler pocket hav ing a plurality of pivot lugs disposed in spaced relation, of a car coupler having spaced pivot lugs meshing with said lugs of the coupler pocket, each of said lugs being provided with a bushing for receiving a pivot pin and being formed at one end with a shoulderedportion cooperating with a cone spondingly shouldered part ofthe. lugwith which it is associated, and a pivot piniextending through saidlugs and bushings for pivotallyconnecting the coupler pocket and car coupler, alternate bushings being elongated so as to permit the coupler. to move into engagement with the coupler pocket and relieve said pin of buffing stress.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature,

ENOCH enonen. in. 

